Ezekiel 21:25

25 And you, O unhallowed wicked one, prince of Israel, whose day has come, the time of your final punishment,

Ezekiel 21:25 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 21:25

And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel
Meaning Zedekiah, the then reigning prince; who is so called, because he had profaned or violated the oath and covenant he made with the king of Babylon, as well as because of other sins he was guilty of; and his being a prince of Israel was an aggravation of his crimes: now, though it is "not fit" in common, or for ordinary persons, "to say to a king thou art wicked, and to princes ye are ungodly", ( Job 34:18 ) , yet a prophet from the Lord, and in his name, may say so; and he ought, when he has a commission from God for it: whose day is come;
the time of his downfall and ruin; and so the Targum,

``whose day of destruction is come:''
when iniquity shall have an end; a stop put to the torrent of it, both in the king and his subjects; they not having the opportunity and means of sinning in captivity as before; or when the measure of iniquity is filled up, then comes punishment; or when the punishment of iniquity shall be completed. So the Targum,
``the time of the recompence of his sins.''

Ezekiel 21:25 In-Context

23 But to them it will seem like a false divination; they have sworn solemn oaths; but he brings their guilt to remembrance, that they may be captured.
24 "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have made your guilt to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your doings your sins appear--because you have come to remembrance, you shall be taken in them.
25 And you, O unhallowed wicked one, prince of Israel, whose day has come, the time of your final punishment,
26 thus says the Lord GOD: Remove the turban, and take off the crown; things shall not remain as they are; exalt that which is low, and abase that which is high.
27 A ruin, ruin, ruin I will make it; there shall not be even a trace of it until he comes whose right it is; and to him I will give it.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.